Transcript First Emperor of Rome Brought stability and prosperity

• First Emperor of
Rome
• Brought stability and
prosperity to the
Roman Empire
• Expanded the
Empire (Egypt, for
example)
• Undertook many
building projects to
improve Rome
Mausoleum of Augustus
• First Roman Emperor born
outside of Italy (born in
Spain)
• Strong ruler who
expanded the borders of
the Roman Empire to its
greatest extent
• Improved roads, bridges,
and aqueducts in Rome
and established a welfare
program for poor children
in Rome
Trajan’s Arch in Benevento, Italy
• Last Emperor of the Pax
Romana
• Fought off nearly
constant threats to the
Empire from invaders
• “Philosopher” who
enacted reforms to
improve the lives of
slaves, widows, etc.
• Biggest mistake was
appointing his inept son
Commodus to succeed
him as Emperor
• Name means “little
boot”
• Capable of extreme
cruelty and rumored to
be insane
• Thought he was a god
and tried to erect statue
of himself in Jerusalem
temple
• Contemplated naming
his horse, Incitatus, as
a governing consul
• Abuser of women
Caligula
and
Michael
Myers:
separated
at birth?
Roman sandal
known as a
caliga.
• Came to power when his
mother, Agrippina,
supposedly poisoned the
emperor Claudius (her
husband)
• He later had his mother
and his wife executed
• Had blotchy skin, a fat
belly, skinny legs, and a
thick neck
• Unfairly blamed a great fire
in Rome on the Christians
and had many killed
Some stories say
that Nero sat and
played music
while Rome
burned. After
the fire, he spent
tons of money
building himself
a huge palace.
The death of Agrippina
from a drawing by
Andre Castaigne.
• Became Emperor at 14 and
ruled for only 4 years before
being killed by the people and
thrown into the Tiber River
• Made unpopular move of trying
to introduce a new primary god
(a Syrian god of the sun) to
replace Jupiter
• Supposedly put on make-up and
dressed in women’s clothing as
part of bizarre religious
ceremonies to worship his god;
he eventually said he was that
god
• Supposedly married a vestal
virgin (a big “no-no”) and also
married a man
• His reign was marked by
economic decline, barbarian
invasions & threats on his life;
he eventually became insane.
• His sister Lucilla plotted his
assassination, but was caught
• Threw his top advisor to an
angry mob when grain ran short
• He fought helpless animals and
overmatched opponents as a
gladiator dressed in lion skins
• Kept a harem of 300 women
• He was strangled in his bed by
Narcissus, an athlete hired to be
his wrestling partner
Commodus dressed as
Hercules for gladiator
battles in the arena
The death
of Commodus
Commodus video